Volleyball | 2/24/2015 3:08:00 PM

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University Head Volleyball Coach Brad Saindon announced Tuesday that assistant coach Malia Shoji has left her role with the Wolves to accept a job on Head Coach Beth Launiere's staff at the University of Utah effective immediately.

"I am forever grateful for the time I've spent with the Western Oregon Volleyball program," said Shoji. "Thanks to Brad's mentoring and the role he has allowed me to play in this program, I have grown so much as a person and coach. The relationships I've built within our team, coaching staff and athletic department are the best reminders of why coaching is so important to me."

Shoji began her time at Western Oregon as a graduate assistant in 2012 before being promoted to an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2013 season. During her three seasons as an assistant, Western Oregon earned 36 victories that included 24 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) play. In her first season with the Wolves, Western Oregon finished the campaign with a 21-6 overall record and finished in second-place in the GNAC with a mark of 14-4.

While working at WOU, Shoji assisted in the planning and execution of player development, was WOU's primary recruiting coordinator, assisted in off-season training and oversaw video/statistics analysis, as well. She coordinated team travel, initiated fundraising efforts for the volleyball program and was the Wolves' primary camp director.
 
Prior to her stint with the Wolves' program, Shoji was an assistant coach under her dad, Tom, at nearby Willamette University in 2011 where she helped establish the Capital City Elite Volleyball Club and served as the Director of Business Operations.

Shoji's coaching experience also includes serving as lead coach for the Gold Medal Squared Volleyball Camps (2012-14), head junior varsity coach at La Jolla Country Day School (2008-10), head coach for the La Jolla Volleyball Club (2008-09) and head coach at Saddleback Valley Volleyball Club (2007).
 
Shoji earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of California – San Diego in 2009 and is currently on pace to receive her Master of Science degree in Education, Information Technology from Western Oregon this spring. She also attended Irvine Valley College where she earned an Associate's Degree in Business Administration.

"I am thankful to Malia for her service to me and the WOU volleyball program," said Saindon. "She is moving onto a Pac 12 institution and I am happy and excited for her, but sorry to see her go. We will miss her."